Developmental regulation of Erk signaling by mitotic kinases

Date

May 18, 2026

Time

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Speaker

Fei Chen

Affiliation

MPI for Molecular Biomedicine, Münster

Language

en

Main Topic

Biologie

Host

Jesse Veenvliet

Description

During the peri-­implantation phase of murine embryogenesis, the epiblast proliferates rapidly and undergoes epithelialization. At the same time, the preimplantation pluripotent state transforms into a more developmentally advanced, pregastrulation state. While extensive research has elucidated cell-­ extrinsic signals that direct the developmental progression, such as the Fgf/Mek/Erk pathway, the potential interplay of intrinsic cellular cues remains largely unexplored. To address this, we conducted a comprehensive phenotypic screen using an in vitro model of epiblast development. We identified aurora kinase A as a cell-­ intrinsic factor contributing to Erk activation and transcriptional response. Consequently, suppressing aurora kinase A activity delayed exit from naïve pluripotency. Moreover, our results show that upon entry into mitosis, Erk relocates to the cell division machinery. We found that in dividing cells, a fraction of Erk, with yet elusive functions, localizes on the centrosomes, where its phosphorylation depends on polo-­like kinase 1.

Last modified: May 18, 2026, 7:36:08 AM